Reviewer Information

• Name: Cora Hussey
• Age: 23
• Gender: Female
• Height: 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
• Weight: 150 lb (70 kg)
• Email address: cahhmc "at" yahoo "dot" com
• Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
• Date: April 12, 2004

Basic Product Information

• Year of Manufacture: 2004
• URL: http://www.snowclaw.com/
• Listed weight: 13 oz (368 g) (on hangtag) 11.8 oz (335 g) (on website)
• Weight as delivered: 11.8 oz (335 g)
• Measured dimensions: 11 in (28 cm) at widest point, 12 in (30 cm) at longest point

Preliminary Information

• Date of arrival: April 12, 2004
• Contents of package (contents were complete):
  • One SnowClaw Aluminum Pro Series with hangtag
  • Two papers describing previous reviews and opinions
• Condition upon arrival: Excellent
• The SnowClaw was easy and intuitive to figure out for all uses in my living room
• The SnowClaw is what I expected from the web site

Product Description

General:

The SnowClaw Aluminum Pro-Series (which I will henceforth refer to only as the SnowClaw) is a scoop made entirely of aluminum with black plastic-covered handles. The SnowClaw has one handle slot on either edge. The SnowClaw is very rigid (it being made of aluminum and all) and the edges thin out to a dull point on top and bottom, presumably to aid its snow cutting ability. The SnowClaw has a gentle scooping shape. It is flat along its central axis, and its edges rise 2 in (5 cm) above that axis. Here is a picture so you can see the SnowClaw. The axis that I am calling the central axis runs from top to bottom, the top and bottom edges have the tapered cutting enhancement, and the side edges which curve upwards have the black handle covers on them. I have my hand in one of the handles for size comparison:

Handles

The handles have nice rounded edges and are big enough for both my bare hands and my gloved hands. The plastic is long enough on the edge to cover under my extended thumb whether in both holding configurations (small end up or down). The plastic on the handles have the upper slots for webbing, small holes which go through the plastic but not the aluminum, and SnowClaw brand S marks.

Edges

As mentioned above, the very top and very bottom edges taper to be a little bit sharper. The rest of the edges are either finished aluminum or covered by plastic. The inside edges of the handles are raised a bit but otherwise the plastic is flat and barely thicker than the aluminum.

Details and Other Notes

The middle of the SnowClaw has a brand picture of a person scooping snow, wording describing it as being an Aluminum Pro-Series SnowClaw, and the designation of "Backcountry Snow Shovel". Above and below this icon are two raised dents in the aluminum in the form of m or w (whether you are looking at the top or bottom). These are easier to see in the picture above -- the one on top is smaller than the one on the bottom. These appear to be functional attempts to better hold the snow on the blade for moving it, but testing will tell more.

Field Testing Plan

Trip Details:

My proposed testing of the SnowClaw will occur in the Sierras of California and the local National Forests in Southern California. Weather will certainly include snow, and likely include rain. Temperatures will probably range from 80 F (27 C) to below freezing. Elevations will range between 5,000 and 11,000 ft, and the trips will be mostly in mountainous terrain. This is an extended test, so I will be visiting these places in spring conditions for a Field Report, and then again next winter for a Long Term Report.

Test Plan Details:

I intend to test three basic items about the SnowClaw. First would be its ability to comfortably move lots of snow. This would involve moling out quinzhees, carefully carving morgue slabs, and clearing kitchens. This heavy-snow-lifting will occur in the early and late portions of the test. I will simply determine how comfortable it is to use (particularly while bending over from lack of a telescoping handle), and how efficient it is at scooping.

Second will be the ability for the SnowClaw to be used in different conditions. Some snow is tough and icy. Other snow is wet and really heavy. Will I miss the leverage of a handle for digging in mank? Will the side of the Aluminum Pro-Series cut through tough, hard, and even near-icy stuff? Can I still lift heavy slop while bending over? These points would be further tested by trying to use the SnowClaw to try to build bolt holes and tent walls in stiff later season snow.

Finally, I will test and try to discover other fun uses. The website demonstrates use as an anchor (for tents, I hope, not for people), how well does that work in practice? How about the one-cheek sled? (I certainly enjoy that slippery-slidy aspect of my current shovel blade.) How well can I carve shelves and nooks with it in my snow shelters and kitchens? Can I eat off it easily? All in all, it looks like a versatile and durable item, and I intend to test it on the full gamut of my snow trips.

Initial Tests and Personal Observations

As I have no snow to be SnowClawing here in Los Angeles in April, testing will have to wait until two weekends from now when I head out to the Sierras in search of some. However, I tested some very important aspects of the SnowClaw even while being snow impaired.

First, for me, both one butt cheek (side sitting) and both butt cheeks can fit on the SnowClaw for glissading purposes. My seat on the carpet on the SnowClaw felt much more comfortable on the gently sloped edges of the SnowClaw than the sharper edges of my normal shovel blade. With just sitting on the carpet with both of them I feel that the SnowClaw has many less upward-facing edges to poke in the event of a bumpy ride.

Next, I looked over the details. My hands fit with room to spare in the handles (I wear a size seven ring, for finger size reference) and do so comfortably. I especially like the plastic covering -- I have winced from more than one cold contact with direct metal in winter. My 1 in (2.5 cm) tubular climbing webbing fits fine through its advertised slots. I, however, would not personally trust the SnowClaw as a climbing anchor as not only is it lacking any sort of rating, but it also does not say anywhere exactly what kind of aluminum it is made out of. But, the webbing does fit and perhaps I will find some use for it in staking out my tent or something. On one handle it says the website and patent number for SnowClaw, but on the other handle it says something very nice: "Always wear gloves when digging". I would have probably lost my share of knuckle skin or had a few frozen fingers before figuring out that one on my own, and so the detail is much appreciated.

Some of the odd uses that are advertised on the web site do not apply to this Aluminum Pro-Series version. It does not bend, so it cannot form a splint, and neither can it be attached to a snowmobile in the fashion that the website demonstrates. Also, the only slots are the four webbing slots and the two handle slots. This means that it does not have the cord-holes that the original SnowClaw seems to have, and cannot be strung up as a shelf as they advertise.

However, these are minor points for me. I look forward to carving, shoveling, molding, and generally moving snow over the rest of the season. The SnowClaw seems to be a clean and intuitive design, and so I very much look forward to getting it out and into some snow!

Read more reviews of SnowClaw International gear
Read more gear reviews by Cora Hussey

Reviews > Snow Gear > Axes and Shovels > SnowClaw Aluminum Pro-Series > Cora Hussey > Initial Report